Hezbollah warns northern Israel – DW – October 12, 2024

The Israeli military on Saturday morning urged residents of southern Lebanon “not to return to their homes” amid ongoing fighting.

Israeli forces continue to “target Hezbollah posts in or near your villages,” IDF spokesman Avichay Adraee said on social media.

“For your own protection, do not return to your homes until further notice. Don't go south; anyone who goes south may be putting their life at risk.”

In a separate post, Adraee also called on health workers in southern Lebanon to avoid using ambulances. He claimed ambulances were being used by Hezbollah fighters.

“We call on medical teams to avoid contact with Hezbollah members and not to cooperate with them,” he said.

“The IDF assures that the necessary measures will be taken against any vehicle transporting armed persons, regardless of the type.”

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Saturday morning it had “successfully intercepted” a projectile over the Galilee, referring to Israel's territory near the border with Lebanon.

In a post on social media, the IDF said the launch originated from Lebanon.

Shortly before, the Lebanese group Hezbollah claimed it had fired a volley of rockets “south of the city of Haifa, targeting the explosives factory there,” the AFP news agency reported.

The events coincided with Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

The Lebanese group Hezbollah has warned Israelis to stay away from Israeli military sites in residential areas in the north of the country.

In a statement released in Hebrew and Arabic, Hezbollah claimed that the Israeli military had bases near cities such as Haifa, Tiberias and Acre.

The group warned Israelis not to “stay near these military gatherings to save their lives.”

Hezbollah is an Iran-backed Shiite political party and militant group in Lebanon. It is classified as a terrorist organization by the USA, Germany and several Sunni Arab countries. The EU lists its armed wing as a terrorist group.

Since the Hamas terror attacks on October 7 last year, there have been almost daily border skirmishes between the group and Israeli forces. Hezbollah said attacks on Israel were carried out in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

Fighting escalated in September when Israel carried out airstrikes in various areas, including the capital Beirut, some of which killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Earlier this month, Israel began a ground invasion of southern Lebanon.

Israel says it is attacking Hezbollah so displaced Israeli citizens can safely return to the north near the border with Lebanon. About 60,000 people were evacuated from northern Israel due to Hezbollah attacks.

Nicaragua is cutting diplomatic ties with Israel, Vice President Rosario Murillo said Friday, calling the Israeli government “fascist” and “genocidal.”

The government said in a statement that the break in relations was due to Israel's attacks on Palestinian territories.

Previously, the country's parliament, the National Assembly, called on the government to take action regarding Israel.

The move is essentially symbolic, as there are virtually no relations between Israel and the Central American country. Israel does not have an ambassador in the Nicaraguan capital Managua.

Nicaragua has become increasingly isolated in recent years after President Daniel Ortega cracked down on anti-government protests in 2018. However, Iran is an ally of the Ortega government.

zc,dh/lo (AP, AFP, Reuters, dpa)